Oh crikey!

We've been taking the plaster off an old wall. We were collecting bits of lead piping we found and, to cut a long story short, madam found it and decided to have a chew.

I don't think she swallowed any, just broke it down, but I have had a quick read up on symptoms just in case. She's not showing any. Any suggestions other than watch and see?

There's really not a lot you can do apart from follow through if you think that there's any chance that she ate some- the effects of lead poisoning are slow in appearing and one of few things that can be done is to administer chelating agents to remove all of the heavy metals from the blood. This is not the sort of thing that you can do by yourself- it takes a vet visit and a blood sample to confirm whether she has absorbed any of the lead.

There's really not a lot you can do apart from follow through if you think that there's any chance that she ate some- the effects of lead poisoning are slow in appearing and one of few things that can be done is to administer chelating agents to remove all of the heavy metals from the blood. This is not the sort of thing that you can do by yourself- it takes a vet visit and a blood sample to confirm whether she has absorbed any of the lead.

In the time it took us to say 'what on earth is she chewing?', I'm almost certain she didn't get chance to swallow. If she did, we're talking a very small amount (would pass through naturally). I've given her some milk just in case.

If the pieces are small enough to pass through then you'll just have to cross your fingers that they will. A piece of lead the size of a fingernail is enough to kill a human if left lodged in the body long term (sorry to sound so alarmist) but hopefully a small piece in the gastrointestinal tract will transit through harmlessly.

If the pieces are small enough to pass through then you'll just have to cross your fingers that they will. A piece of lead the size of a fingernail is enough to kill a human if left lodged in the body long term (sorry to sound so alarmist) but hopefully a small piece in the gastrointestinal tract will transit through harmlessly.


I know, I've just read that 5mg/kg can kill a dog long term (10mg as a one off dose). I'm going to give her some of the soft dog food (Hi-Life, I use it as treats) to ease it (if anything) through.

I'll keep my eye on her and get her to the vets at the first sign of anything.